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 MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - An Australian engineer held hostage in Iraq for nearly seven weeks arrived in his home country Monday and apologized for his televised plea for coalition forces to withdraw from Iraq. Douglas Wood, 64, who lives in Alamo, Calif., told reporters at Melbourne's airport he supported the coalition forces' role in Iraq.
"Frankly I'd like to apologize to both President Bush and Prime Minister (John) Howard for the things I said under duress," said Wood, with his American wife Yvonne Given and his brothers Vernon and Malcolm and their wives by his side.
"I actually believe that I am proof positive that the current policy of training the Iraqi army ... works because it was Iraqis that got me out," he added.
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